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#24. False Solomon Seal/Western Solomon Plume

Smilacina racemosa

Family:

Lily Family

Habitat:

Moist-shady woods.

Characteristics:

1. Plant is similar in some respects to the old world plant called Solomon's Seal".

2. The tiny white flowers are clustered in a terminal head of dense flowers (20+ flowers).

3. When in bloom, False Solomon's Seal has a very sweet perfumed odor. April blooming.

4. The stem is one to four feet long with elliptical leaves having parrallel veins arising alternately off of the stem.

5. The berries which appear in mid summer to early fall are red & likewise clustered at the end of the stem.

Uses:

1. The berries may be eaten raw or cooked.

2. The juice was used by the local Indians & early pioneers to help seal wounds.

3. False Solomon's Seal is a good ornamental plant for spring shade gardens.

At first this might look like red elderberry, but when you look at the leaves, you can see that false solomon seal has parallel leaf veins which the elderberry does not have!
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